The federal government released its Spring 2019 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions May 23. Listed below are the additions, withdrawals, and actions which have had their timelines modified. All the actions listed below are through the EPA unless otherwise noted.
Additions:
Regulatory Determinations for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS);
Notice: December 2019
Final Action: December 2020
Addition of Certain Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) to the Toxics Release Inventory;
Proposed Rule: October 2019
Delayed Timelines:
Revised Lead and Copper Rule;
Proposed Rule: July 2019
Final Rule: July 2020
Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS);
Final Rule: December 2019
Definition of "Waters of the United States"--Recodification of Preexisting Rule;
Final Rule: August 2019
Update to the Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (Council on Environmental Quality);
Proposed Rule: June 2019
Accidental Release Prevention Requirements: Risk Management Programs Under the Clean Air Act; Reconsideration of Amendments;
Final Rule: August 2019
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Revision of the Regulations for Designating Critical Habitat (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service);
Proposed Rule: December 2019
Regulations Implementing Section 1417 of the Safe Drinking Water Act: Prohibition on Use of Lead Pipes, Solder, and Flux;
Final Rule: December 2019
Clean Water Act Hazardous Substances Spill Prevention;
Final Rule: September 2019
Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category;
Proposed Rule: June 2019
Final Rule: August 2020
Revisions to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) for Public Water Systems;
Proposed Rule: June 2020
Final Rule: December 2021
Withdrawals:
Finished Water Storage Facility Inspection Requirements Addendum to the Revised Total Coliform Rule
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations: Group Regulation of Carcinogenic Volatile Organic Compound (VOCs)
The only rule to see a timeline move up is EPA’s rule for Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science which is now expected to be finalized in December of this year. A proposed rule for perchlorate is mandated by consent decree to be released by May 28 of this year and finalized by December 19, 2019. EPA released the proposal on its website on May 23. The agency proposes a Maximum Contaminant Level of 56 parts per billion, but also gives alternative options including withdrawing the decision to regulate entirely.
All these actions are regularly updated on AMWA’s Regulatory Update At-A-Glance page. If you have any questions related to these updates please email Stephanie Hayes Schlea at [email protected].